Wednesday, February 12—A new audiotape believed to be from terrorist Osama bin Laden calls for more attacks against Americans. The tape was aired on an Arab television network yesterday afternoon. U.S. officials say they are almost certain the tape is authentic.
With the nation on high alert, bin Laden's call for more violence has alarmed some U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Colin Powell. Government officials are suggesting that people stock up on water, food, and batteries in case of an attack. Powell used the audiotape as proof of the link between the Qaeda terrorist network and Iraq.
"This nexus between terrorists and states that are developing weapons of mass destruction can no longer be looked away from and ignored," he said in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday.
Testimony before the committee continues today with CIA director George Tenet, who has been reluctant until now to confirm a link between al Qaeda and Iraq. Tenet told Congress that Iraq is harboring senior members of the Qaeda network.
"Iraq has in the past provided training in document forgery and bombmaking to al Qaeda," Tenet said. "It has also provided training in poisons and gases to two al Qaeda associates."
The 16-minute tape hit American news channels within minutes of its airing in the Middle East. The U.S. government urged networks to air translations of the tape, despite past appeals NOT to air bin Laden's messages.
Iraq Responds
The tape does not prove anything, Muhammad Muzaffar al-Adhami said yesterday. Al-Adhami is a member of Iraq's National Assembly.
"This message is new evidence that there is no relationship between al Qaeda and Iraq," he told Al Jazeera. "There is clear evidence in the message showing that there is no such relationship. This is his [bin Laden's] own viewpoint and Iraq has nothing to do with it."
